I went up to Rose Valley Falls yesterday. It’s a series of two main waterfalls, but only flows with any volume or force during heavy rains or snow melt and immediately there after. Even in those circumstances it’s not a gusher.

When I arrived there was a thin layer of hail covering Rose Valley Campground and low clouds. Two RVs were parked with nobody in sight. There was also a guy in an SUV with a tarp draped from its door and on over the picnic bench. He had a small tent pitched.

I walked up the trail to the falls in light intermittent rain. From the lower waterfall I climbed up the steep, rocky hillside covered in patches of slushy snow and to the shaley hilltop below the main waterfall. It started to snow big heavy flakes.

The sound of rushing water filled the small canyon and all four cascades were flowing. Standing on the hilltop, the rocky face of the mountain stood like a wall wrapping around me from left to right. The main waterfall flowed in front of me and two other cascades streamed over the rocks to my right. A lone crow flew about high above the creek and was my only company.

Hilltop view of the main waterfall, the other two cascades are out of frame to my right and another one behind me to the left.

15 Responses to The Snow Frosted Waterfalls of Rose Valley (+ Video)

It’s almost hard to believe there are snows there. It made Rose Valley Falls more beautiful though. I feel like you should be the one getting freshly pressed than mine. Your pictures are more stunning!

And yes, it is recommend to go there after rain.
Loving your hiking blog.

As always, your photos and writing complement each other. I’ve had trouble ;leaving comments on your blog and a few others, but askimet , i hope, has the problem solved. I loved the brilliance of the california poppies and am not surprised that it gained recognition. congratulations! z from ecuador

Now that my comments are getting through, i have ‘catchup” duty! I enjoyed the trivia about ticks and iguanas. I often noted the ticks on iguanas in Costa Rica..
Your post about eating poison oak leaves caught my attention; Over 25 years ago, a farmer in rural Louisiana told me that he chewed poison ivy bark to stay immune; I have never heard anyone else mention that until your post!

Finally, I loved the yucca soap video! Eco hotels should have a chunk of yucca root in each guest bathroom!

(I ‘d love to see that sewn artwork at some point! Put it in the background of one of your photos?) Z

Thanks for your comments! I like that post showing the evolution of the painting. Very neat. I saw quite a few iguanas when I was in Costa Rica years ago, but never was close enough to see much detail or ticks on them for that matter. If my link didn’t work for you try this link to my Flickr page:

That’s a really nice mola! It conveys a great sense of humor and is very-wll made. I’ll bet the back side has its own charisma and charm. Thanks for sharing. (I liked the swallowtail, as I am working on a painting of butterflies right now!) Z

Wow that is a whole lot of snow for Ventura County back country!! I’ve never actually hiked back there, I tend to lean more towards Santa Barbara, way more to do and it’s just a good time! I might have to check this out the next time I am on the coast though. Anything new I am game for!! (Remainder of comment deleted as spam)

The mountains are higher and more accessible in the Ventura County backcountry than anywhere in Santa Barbara County. And because the mountains are higher they receive far more snow than those in Santa Barbara County. Hence the reason I headed toward Rose Valley Falls in Ventura County during this last storm rather the mountains in Santa Barbara County.

But then again, you weren’t serious with your comment; it was spam masquerading as an honest remark. And so I edited out your thinly veiled supposed “recommendation” of what hotel to stay at when in Santa Barbara. I’ve seen your type of comment on my blog before. Don’t bother trying it anymore, as you can see I moderate all comments. They do not go live in real time. You’re wasting your time.